Bobbin holder for loom filling battery



May 18, 1965 E. L. REMINGTON BOBBIN HOLDER FOR LOOM FILLING BATTERYFiled April 15. 1963 INVENTOR ELLIOTT LREMINGTQN A TTORNE Y i an United.States Patent ()fi Fice 3,183,943 Patented May 18, 1965 :BOBBIN HOLDERFOR LooM FILLING BATTERY This invention relates to bobbin changing loomsWherein the running shuttle is replenished with filling from time totime automatically through the insertion of a completely wound bobbin toreplace one nearing exhaustion. It is more particularly directed to themeans for supporting the tip ends of such wound bobbins while they arebeing held in reserve before being transferred individually upon signalfrom the loom.

It is the general object of the invention to simplify the small end discand cut down the assembly time 'by greatly reducing the number ofnecessary parts.

It is a further object of the invention to obtain, through the reductionin weight, a lessening in the battery vibration which tends to rotatethe held bobbins and slacken the filling yarn.

It is a further object to eliminate rust that is usually attendant withthis device by substituting a non-corrosive material.

It is a further object of the invention to devise a holder for the tipends of bobbins, hereincalled a small-end disc, which will be of greatlyreduced Weight than has been previously possible.

It is a still further object of this invention to effect a considerablecost saving through the reduction in the labor required for themanufacture and the assembly of this device.

Other objects will be apparent from the following more detaileddisclosure.

In automatic looms of the type described, the battery or feedingmechanism usually includes two plates or discs which are adapted forintermittent rotation with a supporting stud. The full bobbins areinserted between the discs and held suspended in pockets under springpressure induced by various means.

A well-known method is that of holding the tips or small ends of thebobbins in metallic holders that are positioned in a circle near theouter rim of the small-end disc. The holders are inserted into radiallydisposed slots about the face of the disc and are urged inward by coiledsprings. Each holder has a small pocket orcup to hold the bobbin tipwhich will be pressed in by hand for loading and pressed outwardautomatically for the transfer to a shuttle.

When bobbins are to be placed into the battery, a short length offilling is drawn from the tip end of each and extended outwardly overthe rim of the small-end disc to a circular thread guide and holderwhich is also fixed to the supporting stud. These parts are heldsuspended from the loom frame in a horizontal plane and are subject toconsiderable vibration. During the period of time the bobbins areawaiting transfer, there has been a tendency for them to unwindsufficiently to slacken the held end of yarn. This may cause animperfect transfer and stop the loom or form a weaving defect. Byreducing the weight of the suspended parts, this fault is noticeablylessened.

The small-end discs and the small-end holders of the prior art have hadthe problem of rust and corrosion on those surfaces which contact thefilling yarn. a costly operation to disassemble the mechanism to cleanand polish the contact surfaces. With the instant invention this will beno longer required.

Definite cost savings through the reduction of materials and labor canbe efiected with a small-end disc of unitary It has been construction asdisclosed in this specification. Batteries of twenty-two or twenty-eightbobbin capacity have required a like number of tip holders and springsto be assembled on the small-end disc for each loom. Many spare partsmay now be omitted from a mills inventory.

The invention will be described by reference to a specific embodimentthereof as illustrated in theaccompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the replenishing end of a loom with theinvention in position thereon;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the invention on a loom showing a portionof the inner face with the bobbins removed;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 in FIG. 2 showing the position ofthe yielding portion when a bobbin is received or discharged; and

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 showing the bobbin tip as held by theindentation.

Now referring to FIG. 1, a loom to which the invention has been appliedcomprises, among other parts, a loomside 10, breast beam 11, hand rail12, and a battery hopper stand 13. Extending outwardly from the base ofthe hopper stand a stud 14 supports a thread cutting and holding device15 and also carries the transferring mechanism of which only thetransferring spring 16 is shown.

A stud 17 is fastened to the hopper stand 13 by a nut 18 and is thesupporting means for the rotary battery. A bobbin butt supporting plateand hub (not shown) are rotatably held upon the stud 17 adjacent theouter face of the hopper stand 13. Fastened for intermittent rotationwith the butt supporting plate is a small-end disc generally designated19. Outwardly from the small-end disc and adapted to rotate therewith isa thread guide 20 and thread holder 21 which may be of any usual type.

Now referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the small-end disc 19 with whichthis invention is involved is shown as a circular, generallysaucer-shaped plate. The low circular center area 22 slopes upwardradially to a high point 23 and then flares outwardly in a reversedirection to form a rim 24 whose outside edge 25 reaches a point on theplane of the center area 22. The disc is reinforced by integrally formedraised ridges 26 extending radially to the junction of the rim 24.Between the ridges 26 channels 26 rise to the rim 24 in a sharper angleas seen in FIG. 4. It is desirable that the disc 19 be suflicientlyrigid to retain its entire periphery in a vertical plane in order tohold the bobbins B with an even tension (FIG. 1). The reinforcing ridgesmay be of varying designs to accomplish the required results. A centerhole 27 is adapted to encircle the stud 17, with holes 28 being used forfastening the disc 19 to the hub of the butt supporting plate.

Arranged in a circle around the face of the disc 19 at the highest point23 of the curve are a series of bobbin tip indentations 29 (FIGS. 2, 3,and 4). Each indentation is of a depth and diameter as to support afilled bobbin at the tip end during the intermittent rotation of thedisc 19 to the point of bobbin transfer. The raised ridges 26 slopeupward radially to the high point 23 and there form a level plateau area30 before reversing direction at 31 to meld with the rim 24. Anindentation 29 is centered on each plateau area 34 which is cut on threesides to form a flexible hinged member 32. Two radially directed cuts 33are connected at their outer ends by a circumferential cut 34.

A bobbin tip positioning groove 35 starts near the rim 24 and extendsupwardly on the sloping area 31 and runs into the indentation 29. Eachindentation has a positioning groove. In operation, a filled bobbin ispositioned, butt first, into the butt supporting plate and then the tipend. is directed to the groove 35 radially opposite the bobbin butt. Aslight pressure toward the center of the areaaas disc 19 will force thehinged member 32 to yield (FIG. 3) and the bobbin tip will rest withinthe indentation 29 (FIG. 4). The hinged member will also yield in thesame manner when the robbin is discharged from the replenishing batteryinto the loom shuttle.

As a hinged member flexes twice for each bobbin it discharges, the disc19 should be made of a material incorporating the tendency to recover toa high degree. It is also necessary that the disc be sufliciently rigidto hold a full circle of bobbins with constant pressure against the tipends. A thermo-plastic tripolymer material such as Cycolac A.B.S.,Marbon Chemical Co., has been found to be satisfactory for this purpose.Other materials with similar chemical and mechanical properties may besubstituted as desired.

The inward ends of the radial cuts 33 have a radius as at 36 to helpdistribute the strain pattern evenly in a direction away from theflexing area. Flexible member 32, when receiving or discharging abobbin, will be hinged at a line between the inner ends of the cuts 33.

Before bobbins are inserted into the battery in the usual manner, theyard Y is found and a short length is withdrawn and held. As the bobbintip is snapped into the indentation 29, the yarn is passed over the rim24 of the disc 19 and outwardly to the thread guide and tautly aroundthe holder 21. A smooth annular peripheral surface 37 forms a raisedfilling supporting member to position each end of filling yarn away fromthe edge which could sever the yard and effect a loom stop (FIG. 1). InFIGS. 3 and 4 is shown a means for making the rim 24 more rigid if itshould be necessary. An expanding hoop spring 38 is held within thechannel formed by the raised surface 37. In most cases this hoop springis not required but may be useful where mill conditions cause excessivevibration. Y

The present invention discloses an improved small-end disc for a loombattery by incorporating the tip holders and springs into the body ofthe disc. It is made of a material which combines high memorycharacteristics with shape retention and long life expectancy.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to beunderstood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number ofways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precisedetails described, but is intended to embrace all variations andmodifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A small-end disc of unitary construction for the filling replenishingbattery of a loom comprising a circular series of pressure yieldingindentations being adapted to sustain the tip ends of filling bobbins,bobbin tip positioning grooves leading to each of said indentations,each indentation in said series being centrally positioned on a flexibleintegrally formed member, said flexible member being formed between tworadially directed cuts connect-ed at the outward ends of said cuts by acircumferential cut the inward ends of said radially directed cutsdelimiting a flexible hinged area, and a smooth raised annularperipheral surface for separately supporting the end of filling fromeach bobbin.

2. In a loom, a rotatable filling battery adapted to contain a series ofwound filling bobbins in circular arrangement which comprises a plateadapted to retain the butts of filling bobbins in spaced separation, aconnected smallend disc member of unitary construction including acircular series of pressure yielding indentations being adapted tosustain the tip ends of filling bobbins, bobbin tip positioning groovesleading inwardly to each of said indentations, each indentation in saidseries being centrally positioned on a flexible integrally formedmember, said flexible member being formed between two radially directedcuts, said cuts being connected at their outer ends by a circumferentialcut, the inward ends of said radially directed cuts delimiting aflexible hinged area, a smooth raised annular peripheral surface forseparately supporting the end of filling from each bobbin, and acircular thread guide being adapted to rotate with said plate and saiddisc.

References Cited by-the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 830,397 9/06 Wood139-248 1,407,423 2/22 Jackson 139-249 1,430,005 9/2 2 Crompton et al139--349 1,528,468 3/25 Crompton 139-249 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,285 4/02Austria.

DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner.

1. A SMALL-END DISC OF UNITARY CONSTRUCTION FOR THE FILLING REPLENISHINGBATTERY OF A LOOM COMPRISING A CIRCULAR SERIES OF PRESSURE YIELDINGINDENTATIONS BEING ADATPED TO SUSTAIN THE TIP ENDS OF FILLING BOBBINS,BOBBIN TIP POSITIONING GROOVES LEADING TO EACH OF SAID INDENTATIONS,EACH INDENTATION IN SAID SERIES BEING CENTRALLY POSITIONED ON A FLEXIBLEINTEGRALLY FORMED MEMBER, SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBER BEING FORMED BETWEEN TWORADIALLY DIRECTED CUTS CONNECTED AT THE OUTWARD ENDS OF SAID CUTS BY ACIRCUMFERENTIAL CUT THE INWARD ENDS OF SAID RADIALLY DIRECTED CUTSDELIMITING A FLEXIBLE HINGED AREA, AND A SMOOTH RAISED ANNULARPERIPHERAL SURFACE FOR SEPARATELY SUPPORTING THE END OF FILLING FROMEACH BOBBIN.